Italian great Andrea Pirlo announced his move to New York City FC on Monday and new teammates Frank Lampard and David Villa welcomed him to Major League Soccer’s hottest club. Pirlo, a 36-year-old midfielder, enjoyed star turns at AC Milan, where he won two Champions League titles, and for the past four seasons at Juventus, where he won four Serie A crowns and lost in this year’s Champions League final. He also starred in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph. “Bienvenido Maestro,” tweeted Spanish striker Villa. “What a signing! Welcome to the club Andrea Pirlo!” said England’s Lampard on Facebook. Lampard, a 37-year-old midfielder, and Villa, a 33-year-old forward, join Pirlo in bringing star power to a club co-owned by English Premier League side Manchester City and Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees. It’s a star trio that football fans in New York have not seen since the 1970s heyday of the New York Cosmos, when Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio […]

Former Barcelona forward, David Villa, has backed his former side to win the El Clasico on Sunday. David Villa, who played for Barcelona from 2010 to 2013, has tipped Barcelona to be the favourite side on Sunday when they face Real Madrid at home. However, Villa also suggested that anything can happen and anyone can win when the two Spanish giants go head-to-head. “I see Barcelona well above Real Madrid at this moment. Their last few games have been spectacular, while Real Madrid’s have cost them going forward,” Villa told Onda Cero radio. “Months ago it was the other way around, that’s why these teams are so great.” Villa, currently captaining MLS side New York City claims that Barcelona and Real Madrid are “the two best teams in the world,” but “right now Barcelona are a little bit ahead”. The Spaniard stressed on the importance of the tie between the two teams and insisted that the game paralyses the world. […]

The FIFA Confederations Cup is a precurson to the blockbuster event – the FIFA World Cup, the following year and at least 3-4 top teams participate in the event. TheHardTackle looks at 5 such players from Group B, comprising Spain, Uruguay, Tahiti & Nigeria.